Novato, California, installs 1,400 LED streetlights

Following a successful pilot installation, the city of Novato, California, is continuing with a large-scale installation of LED streetlights on the city’s roadways. The initial pilot program tested LED fixtures manufactured by BetaLED/Cree as well as induction streetlights. Following a competitive bidding process, city officials selected fixtures manufactured by Leotek Electronics. The city expects to convert 1,400 existing high pressure sodium (HPS) streetlights to LED streetlight fixtures.

The city’s installations are partially funded by a $352,000 grant from the US Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program and a zero percent interest financing agreement with energy provider, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). Approximately 300 LED fixtures in the installation are also equipped with programmable photocells to increase energy conservation. Initial estimates indicate that the city will save approximately $57,000.

“The existing HPS fixtures range in wattage from 70 watt to 200 watts, and we will replace them with 34 watt to 68 watt equivalent LED streetlights,” said Jason Nutt, public works director for the city of Novato. Collector roads and arterials roadways will be fitted with the 68 watt LED fixtures, and residential and minor collector roadways will be fitted with the 34 watt LED fixtures. This will result in energy use reduction of about 50%.